Moving Target

Jason Bateman stars in this made for TV film about a rock and rolling kid who goes off to a music camp. While gone Bateman's dead Tom Skerritt who works for a big investment house in San Francisco turns federal witness against his employer who has been laundering mob money for decades. Tom Skerritt and the rest of the family go into witness protection, but Bateman who has run away from the long haired music in the old fashioned sense at the music camp is in the winds.

When he gets home he finds a house stripped bare and no one knows where the family is. But both the Justice Department in the person of John Glover and a mob hit man Jack Wagner are both after him. Bateman does not know who friend or foe is, so he has to keep a Moving Target.

It was interesting to see Glover as a good guy for once and soap opera hunk Jake Wagner is a truly terrifying amoral hit man. As a movie Moving Target obeys the first rule of movie making, it moves.

Bateman is good also as a truly clever and bright kid, which should make one fear for the security of witness protection.

Fans of the above named players should like this.

I'm watching a marathon of Jason Bateman movies and I was really pleased with this one. For a made for TV movie, this is one in a million. The plot is concise, the actors are all talented and the movie as a whole really keeps your attention throughout. I really felt the sadness and confusion that Toby's going through over his missing family. I liked the whole "not knowing who to trust" point of view AND there's actually a lot of really good action in this movie. There's car chases, people jumping from buildings, scary hit men. And it seemed like Jason was doing all his own stunts, which were many. Pros: 80's cuties Action Drama Mystery Cons: Actress who plays Mrs. Kellogg seems half asleep. Movie drags on a bit in the middle before getting to the point.

I gave it a 9/10 because it highly exceeded my expectations and I got to stare at 18 y.o. Jason Bateman for 90 minutes :)

The film has a decent enough plot which keeps concentration and is in places interesting and exciting, being a TV film. The reasons behind the main plot is slightly disappointing and the film fails to deliver at intervals, but overall it is a reasonably enjoyable TV movie.

It's not a feature film, it's a solid TV so see it that way.

And it's pretty good. Bateman was great, it seemed pretty real.

Very not perfect- no way the Feds would have one agent with this kid to not have attention- that's silly.

Really, it does fall apart in the third act, like so many movies.

But in this case, as a TV movie it works, especially when the lead calls the Feds for help. It does feel like infuriating red tape in a crazy urgent situation.

What this movie does well, it does REALLY well.

The third act thing where the Big Bad does moronic things- yes, that's here in glorious 80's stupid, but hey, it's an 80's flick, ;).

This is one summer camp musical that starts off like a teen comedy but begins to take some turns unexpectedly. Jason Bateman is well cast as a typical young teen kid from a middle class family. He is an adequate musician and he has plenty of friends.

His experiences at summer camp give us an insight into his musical weaknesses and his talent for finding trouble. His life takes a major change just as he is beginning to find some fame as a maybe rock star.

Action begins when the story is only into its first 15 minutes and the audience is taken for an adventurous ride. There is no bad language or nudity. This one is family safe. It is a little scary at times and there are some fine stunts with cars and people. It all looks top notch.

Jason at times reminded me of someone when he smiled or turned his head a certain way during the movie. It took me awhile to recognize who it was he resembled. If anyone is familiar with the smile of Joe Dallesandro during his youthful days, that is the same smile we see on Jason here.

I bought this one at Big Lots for $3. It seems to be part of a big closeout special from M-G-M. Highly recommended at any price.

If you like this I also recommend Emil and the Detectives if you can find it.

Tom Willett